YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia received $9,000 from the Canada Post Community Foundation for a project that will help young people develop job-readiness skills. From left are Kim Roy, Sharon MacAlpine, Kim Whitman-Mansfield, Paul MacDonald, Yvonne Smith, Harry Cooper.

Three Southwest Nova Scotia locations supported

CORNWALLIS PARK - With help from Canada Post, YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia will create and deliver a five-day program to assist youth ages 15-21 to develop job readiness skills that help them prepare for the real world of work.

YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia received $9,000 from the Canada Post Community Foundation for the project titled Southwest Nova Scotia Job Preparation Skills for Youth in Annapolis, Yarmouth and Lunenburg counties.

The YMCA has a history of responding to the needs of the unemployed and underemployed Canadians, especially youth, by providing much-needed employment programs to address some of the barriers in entering the labour market, the organization said in a media release Oct. 24.

“Youth will learn how to market their employability skills, identify their essential skills, and recognize the value of networking,” the release said. “This comprehensive program will encourage youth to engage in citizenship and leadership activities so that they can become responsible citizens to their own and broader communities.”

The program will help youth gain the confidence, abilities, and skills needed to pursue their first job. It will be delivered by skilled YMCA Youth Program staff at Lunenburg County YMCA, Fundy YMCA, and YMCA Yarmouth.

“This program will offer resources to address barriers to employment and access supports needed to get youth in Southwest Nova Scotia ready for work,” said Kim Whitman-Mansfield, youth coordinator of the Lunenburg County YMCA.

“In our 2017 Strategic Plan our YMCA committed to develop new and innovative youth programming and strong community partnerships. We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Canada Post Foundation for helping us to deliver on this goal by supporting this new program,” said Yvonne Smith, CEO of the YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia.

“Our Foundation works to deliver a brighter future for Canadian children and youth,” said Deepak Chopra, president and CEO, Canada Post and foundation chairman.